Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols All Variants of the Smith & Wesson M&P Auto Pistols


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-07-2012, 02:55 PM
xopher88x's Avatar
xopher88x xopher88x is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 265
Likes: 5
Liked 28 Times in 20 Posts
Default The Shield's Safety

I'm bummed out that I cannot get a Shield without a safety. I'm probably not going to get a Shield. I'm at peace with that notion. That said, can someone please describe how the safety works? I know how the "classic" M&P safety works by simply blocking trigger movement. Is the Shield's safety different than the rest of the M&P line?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-07-2012, 03:10 PM
Shielded's Avatar
Shielded Shielded is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 538
Likes: 391
Liked 99 Times in 65 Posts
Default

The Shield is my 1st M&P so all I know is it seems to just block the trigger. The slide still moves etc... I like having it myself, it's very unobtrusive and it's good for pocket carry IMHO.
__________________
John 3:16, Carry Everyday!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 05-07-2012, 03:26 PM
Moonman Moonman is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 3,043
Liked 1,791 Times in 932 Posts
Default

The safety is small, use it or not to use it is your choice.

I carry a 1911 COCKED AND LOCKED at times, so the removal of the safety is automatic with the draw stroke.
__________________
NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-07-2012, 03:26 PM
Lee in Quartzsite's Avatar
Lee in Quartzsite Lee in Quartzsite is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kingman, Arizona
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 758
Liked 2,916 Times in 947 Posts
Default

The safety blocks the trigger bar from moving in the Sear. It does not lock the slide as it does in the Ruger LC-9. My Shield is my first M&P with a safety...my full size and compact do not have one and I prefer it that way. Since I have no option with the Shield I will only use the safety for re-holstering. Once the gun is in the holster I click the safety off making it just like my other M&P's.

Denying yourself ownership of a new and great gun based upon a simple little switch really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Just leave it off and forget about it, problem solved. At least it doesn't have the dreaded key lock like many of the Ruger and Taurus guns.
Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Like Post:
  #5  
Old 05-07-2012, 03:47 PM
mag318's Avatar
mag318 mag318 is offline
US Veteran
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 19
Liked 1,313 Times in 447 Posts
Default

The safety on the Shield is so unobtrusive unlike the ones on full size and compact M&Ps it doesn't bother me. It's there if you want to use it and small enough not to bother most that won't use it. I like the idea of having it.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 05-07-2012, 03:50 PM
TNSmithfan TNSmithfan is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hendersonville, Tennessee
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

I've had several M&P's and the Shield is by far my favorite for many reasons. That being said I must agree with the idea that you should not miss out on owning a great gun over what is in the end a very minor component of the gun. Sure it has a purpose yet at the same time it can be argued that a striker fired gun really doesnt need one anyway (finger off trigger saftey on, finger on trigger saftey off). The saftey itself is very small and somewhat stiff. Once it is in the off positon it is not going to easily move back to the safe postion.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-07-2012, 04:09 PM
Vespers Vespers is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Citrus County, Florida
Posts: 37
Likes: 9
Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts
Default

I would just be happy to find one so I can be an owner!!!
__________________
Tony
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-07-2012, 04:14 PM
Smithaddict Smithaddict is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 24
Likes: 13
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Default

Can it be taken out and thrown in the garbage?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-07-2012, 05:02 PM
Danno_man Danno_man is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Aurora, OH
Posts: 370
Likes: 26
Liked 91 Times in 58 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smithaddict View Post
Can it be taken out and thrown in the garbage?
Nope...

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-07-2012, 05:54 PM
Rudy40's Avatar
Rudy40 Rudy40 is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 119
Likes: 34
Liked 29 Times in 19 Posts
Default

Just keep her off --


Sent from my iPad 3rd Gen. using Tapatalk HD
__________________
Glock 27
Shield 9mm
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:02 PM
Maddmax's Avatar
Maddmax Maddmax is offline
US Veteran
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: N.E. Iowa Boondocks USA
Posts: 2,888
Likes: 5,524
Liked 1,597 Times in 993 Posts
Default

I think they did it for legal reasons. Shor-nuff' some knot head will/would have a "Darwin Moment" and stuff it in something (pocket/purse) and snag the trigger on something. This way S&W is covered. I don't have safeties on any of my other FS M&P's and wouldn't have them with them. However,on the Shield (being that small),it is handy. It's positive on or positive off and sits tight against the side.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:05 PM
mrbort's Avatar
mrbort mrbort is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 193
Likes: 285
Liked 159 Times in 50 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee in Quartzsite View Post
The safety blocks the trigger bar from moving in the Sear. It does not lock the slide as it does in the Ruger LC-9. My Shield is my first M&P with a safety...my full size and compact do not have one and I prefer it that way. Since I have no option with the Shield I will only use the safety for re-holstering. Once the gun is in the holster I click the safety off making it just like my other M&P's.

Denying yourself ownership of a new and great gun based upon a simple little switch really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Just leave it off and forget about it, problem solved. At least it doesn't have the dreaded key lock like many of the Ruger and Taurus guns.
Love the plan for safety use. That's exactly what I'm planning on doing once they make their way out here.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:12 PM
kris7047th's Avatar
kris7047th kris7047th is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 520
Likes: 63
Liked 103 Times in 67 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee in Quartzsite View Post
The safety blocks the trigger bar from moving in the Sear. It does not lock the slide as it does in the Ruger LC-9. My Shield is my first M&P with a safety...my full size and compact do not have one and I prefer it that way. Since I have no option with the Shield I will only use the safety for re-holstering. Once the gun is in the holster I click the safety off making it just like my other M&P's.

Denying yourself ownership of a new and great gun based upon a simple little switch really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Just leave it off and forget about it, problem solved. At least it doesn't have the dreaded key lock like many of the Ruger and Taurus guns.
Well said!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:20 PM
MIST MIST is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SW FL
Posts: 207
Likes: 31
Liked 81 Times in 30 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mag318 View Post
The safety on the Shield is so unobtrusive unlike the ones on full size and compact M&Ps...
Agreed. If it was like the large lever type safety on the compact and full size M&P's I wouldn't want it there. However it's like the safety on the BG380 which is unobtrusive and requires conscious effort to activate and deactivate.

Another vote for no plan to use it but doesn't bother me that it's there.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:30 PM
toocool toocool is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Kenosha, WI USA
Posts: 290
Likes: 41
Liked 20 Times in 14 Posts
Default

I don't understand the refusal to buy what is one of the best handguns out there because of a relatively inconsequential device. The safety does serve a purpose (it appeases my daughter who has a curious 4-year-old, so she allows my son-in-law to have his), but if it's not your thing, just don't use it. It's small enough and has a positive enough activation that I don't see how you could engage it accidentally. I don't use it on mine, and haven't thought twice about it.
__________________
Gary
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:30 PM
Deezil's Avatar
Deezil Deezil is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Posts: 36
Likes: 3
Liked 20 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smithaddict View Post
Can it be taken out and thrown in the garbage?
I personally would HIGHLY recommend NOT removing the safety from any gun you intend to carry. I just have to believe that if, God forbid, you had to use it for its intended purpose, the court system would have no problem throwing you under the jail!!!!!


Think about it.

Just my .02!
__________________
Recovering Glockaholic!
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:38 PM
checkmyswag's Avatar
checkmyswag checkmyswag is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 367
Likes: 63
Liked 127 Times in 68 Posts
Default

I LIKE the safety on the m&p serious. It's very much 1911 like and gives me a place to rest my thumb. On the Shield...it was easy to sweep off but wouldn't be so if your hands were wet and most likely not easy to take off in a high stress situation unless you had much much training in doing so.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 05-07-2012, 09:40 PM
robrossk robrossk is offline
US Veteran
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Missouri
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 3,725
Liked 1,701 Times in 680 Posts
Default

What safety. Just kidding but I don't even pay attention as it is not in the way at all.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 05-08-2012, 11:05 AM
jfd jfd is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: midwest
Posts: 507
Likes: 421
Liked 260 Times in 124 Posts
Default

Can't find the post from this forum entered a few wks ago in which someone stated with apparent certainty that the safety indeed CAN be removed and that S&W can provide the instructions and for a fee a dead plug for the hole the lever comes out of. Can't verify the accuracy of the claim, guess you could always call S&W and ask. The safety doesn't bother me. As mentioned by others, it's pretty unobtrusive and positive in its actuation either on or off. Anythings possible but would think it pretty unlikely one would find it accidentally in either the on or off position. Mine requires intentional effort to engage/disengage.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 05-12-2012, 10:13 AM
Storm40 Storm40 is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 154
Likes: 17
Liked 49 Times in 31 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee in Quartzsite View Post
The safety blocks the trigger bar from moving in the Sear. It does not lock the slide as it does in the Ruger LC-9. My Shield is my first M&P with a safety...my full size and compact do not have one and I prefer it that way. Since I have no option with the Shield I will only use the safety for re-holstering. Once the gun is in the holster I click the safety off making it just like my other M&P's.

Denying yourself ownership of a new and great gun based upon a simple little switch really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Just leave it off and forget about it, problem solved. At least it doesn't have the dreaded key lock like many of the Ruger and Taurus guns.
Chambering a round with the safety for me is a + and then I also sweep the safety off after holstering. I have a Taurus Slim with the silly key lock and I just do not use it.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 05-16-2012, 10:12 AM
VMaxSplat VMaxSplat is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 593
Likes: 95
Liked 372 Times in 176 Posts
Default

I am looking to buy a Shield asap (as soon as I can find one). As a long time 1911 shooter, I'd love to have the same extended safety lever my M&P40FS and M&P22 have on the Shield.

For those that don't care for the thumb safety, I can see why they wouldn't want their Shield to have one. For me, I am very glad to see that S&W included the thumb safety, but am surprised that they don't offer versions with and without it like the rest of the line.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 05-16-2012, 10:53 AM
RussC's Avatar
RussC RussC is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 953
Likes: 43
Liked 395 Times in 207 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by xopher88x View Post
I'm bummed out that I cannot get a Shield without a safety. I'm probably not going to get a Shield. I'm at peace with that notion. That said, can someone please describe how the safety works? I know how the "classic" M&P safety works by simply blocking trigger movement. Is the Shield's safety different than the rest of the M&P line?
Xopher

Felt the same way but I got over it real quick after first range session. The safety is flush and you could ignore the safety and rely on the holster. I decided to train sweeping safety when I draw and it has been ok. I can draw from pocket holster sweep safety in about one second. I ordered some big dots with the goal of drawing sweep acquire 7 yard Target shoot in 1.5 seconds.

Eliminating the three dot sights for big dot will more than make up for loss time sweeping safety.

The short break with the trigger is another reason I decided to use safety.

Russ
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 05-16-2012, 01:05 PM
Whatgorilla Whatgorilla is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 76
Likes: 3
Liked 14 Times in 8 Posts
Default

I agree with you, BUT mine is so hard to engage, I don't worry about it.
I also don't mess with it--wouldn't want it to loosen up.
That said, your sentiment is SOOOO common, I'm betting Apex or one of the other parts makers WILL make a patch/safety remover of some sort before long. I'm fine with waiting.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 03-09-2013, 04:16 PM
MSG Glenn MSG Glenn is offline
US Veteran
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,478
Likes: 207
Liked 741 Times in 668 Posts
Default

Don't deny yourself buying a fine pistol just because it has a safety. Just don't use it. Remove it or have it removed or just ignore it. Most M&Ps full size & compact come without a safety but some have a lever activated safety & some have the lever removed & the safety activated with the tool found in the grip (the "sear deactivater tool"). Something like that might be good for storage of the pistol but I wouldn't want to have to deal with it if I needed the pistol in action fast. If that was the only handgun I could buy I'd plug the hole & forget about it.
__________________
Former USN, Retired US Army
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 03-09-2013, 05:01 PM
tonesurfer tonesurfer is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: TX
Posts: 146
Likes: 1
Liked 44 Times in 23 Posts
Default

The safety cannot be removed but it CAN be disabled. You have to trim a piece of the safety bar. The bar cannot be left off the gun because it is what keeps the sear pin in place. There's a nice vid on youtube about it here:

M&P Shield Manual Safety Removal - YouTube
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 03-09-2013, 05:27 PM
Smitty357 Smitty357 is offline
Member
The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety The Shield's Safety  
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Baton Rouge, La
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 68
Liked 1,431 Times in 655 Posts
Default

The only form of safety i use on my Shield is my trigger finger. Its habit to never put my finger anywhere near the trigger unless im ready to use it. And of course during the take down, but thats after im sure the weapon is cleared.

During a real self defense situation if u have time to click the safety, chances are you'll be dead before you ever squeeze the trigger.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
1911, bg380, ruger, shield, smith & wesson, smith and wesson, taurus

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
M&P Shield Safety vs. No Safety RLee Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 103 10-11-2017 08:13 PM
Shield 45 EDC Safety model or NO SAFETY? Moonman Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 39 10-25-2016 12:39 AM
Shield 9 safety or no safety markmiela Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 30 02-21-2016 11:09 PM
Traded my thumb safety Shield for a non thumb safety. DeeBee Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 131 02-24-2015 05:51 PM
Shield Safety-yes or no Jayhawkokie Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 47 11-10-2014 08:37 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:55 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)